Method for reducing flicker when displaying processed digital data on video displays having a low refresh rate

Abstract

An apparatus for processing digital display data is described, wherein the digital display data has a fixed number of pixels in each display line, and the apparatus has a horizontal averaging means and a vertical averaging means. The horizontal averaging means identifies pixel data corresponding to a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel, where the first, second, and third pixels are consecutive pixels in the same line of display data, and then smoothes the intensity values of the first, second, and third pixels, after which the smoothed values are stored. The vertical averaging means for identifies pixel data corresponding to a fourth and fifth pixels, where the fourth and fifth pixels are vertically adjacent to each other, and then smoothes the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixel data, and storing the resulting smoothed values.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for processing digital display data, said digital display data representing a fixed number of pixels in each display line, the apparatus comprising: 
       packing means for serially organizing display data as horizontal display data corresponding to pixels in the same horizontal line of display data and as vertical display data corresponding to pixels in the same vertical line of display data:  
       a horizontal averaging means for identifying pixel data corresponding to a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel, said first, second, and third pixels being consecutive pixels from said horizontal display data, and smoothing the intensity values of said first, second, and third pixel, and storing a resulting smoothed value for said second pixel, wherein said horizontal averaging means performs said smoothing operation by mathematically computing a first sum of one-quarter of the intensity value of the first pixel, one-half of the intensity value of the second pixel, and one-quarter of the intensity value of the third pixel; and  
       a vertical averaging means for identifying pixel data corresponding to a fourth pixel, and a fifth pixel, said fourth and fifth pixels being vertically adjacent pixels from said vertical display data and smoothing the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixel data, and storing the resulting smoothed values.  
     
     
       2. An apparatus for processing digital display data, said digital display data representing a fixed number of pixels in each display line, the apparatus comprising: 
       packing means for serially organizing display data as horizontal display data corresponding to pixels in the same horizontal line of display data and as vertical display data corresponding to pixels in the same vertical line of display data:  
       a horizontal averaging means for identifying pixel data corresponding to a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel, said first, second, and third pixels being consecutive pixels from said horizontal display data, and smoothing the intensity values of said first, second, and third pixel, and storing a resulting smoothed value for said second pixel; and  
       a vertical averaging means for identifying pixel data corresponding to a fourth pixel, and a fifth pixel, said fourth and fifth pixels being vertically adjacent pixels from said vertical display data and smoothing the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixel data, and storing the resulting smoothed values, wherein said vertical averaging means performs said smoothing operation by computing a second sum of the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixels and dividing said second sum by two.  
     
     
       3. A method for processing digital display data comprising the steps of: 
       serially organizing display data as horizontal display data corresponding to pixels in the same horizontal line of display data;  
       identifying pixel data corresponding to a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel, said first, second, and third pixels being consecutive pixels from said horizontal display data; and  
       smoothing the intensity values of said first, second, and third pixel, and storing a resulting smoothed value for said second pixel, wherein said smoothing operation is accomplished by mathematically computing a first sum of one-quarter of the intensity value of the first pixel, one-half of the intensity value of the second pixel, and one-quarter of the intensity value of the third pixel.  
     
     
       4. A method for processing digital display data comprising the steps of: 
       serially organizing display data as vertical display data corresponding to pixels in the same vertical line of display data;  
       identifying pixel data corresponding to a fourth pixel, and a fifth pixel, said fourth and fifth pixels being vertically adjacent pixels from said vertical display data; and  
       smoothing the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixel data, and storing the resulting smoothed values, wherein said smoothing operation is accomplished by computing a second sum of the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixels and dividing said second sum by two.  
     
     
       5. A method for processing digital display data comprising the steps of: 
       serially organizing display data as horizontal display data corresponding to pixels in the same horizontal line of display data and as vertical display data corresponding to pixels in the same vertical line of display data;  
       identifying pixel data corresponding to a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel, said first, second, and third pixels being consecutive pixels from said horizontal display data;  
       smoothing the intensity values of said first, second, and third pixel, and storing a resulting smoothed value for said second pixel, wherein said smoothing is accomplished by mathematically computing a first sum of one-quarter of the intensity value of the first pixel, one-half of the intensity value of the second pixel, and one-quarter of the intensity value of the third pixel;  
       identifying pixel data corresponding to a fourth pixel, and a fifth pixel, said fourth and fifth pixels being vertically adjacent pixels from said vertical display data; and  
       smoothing the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixel data, and storing the resulting smoothed values.  
     
     
       6. A method for processing digital display data comprising the steps of: 
       serially organizing display data as horizontal display data corresponding to pixels in the same horizontal line of display data and as vertical display data corresponding to pixels in the same vertical line of display data;  
       identifying pixel data corresponding to a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel, said first, second, and third pixels being consecutive pixels from said horizontal display data;  
       smoothing the intensity values of said first, second, and third pixel, and storing a resulting smoothed value for said second pixel;  
       identifying pixel data corresponding to a fourth pixel, and a fifth pixel, said fourth and fifth pixels being vertically adjacent pixels from said vertical display data; and  
       smoothing the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixel data, and storing the resulting smoothed values, wherein said smoothing operation is accomplished by computing a second sum of the intensity values of said fourth and fifth pixels and dividing said second sum by two.